The Secret Life of a Tree

Time required:

60–90 minutes

Materials required:

• Paper and pencils
• Coloured pencils, crayons or paints
• Clipboards (optional)
• Measuring tape or string
• Leaves, twigs and other fallen natural materials
• Access to a tree or small area of woodland

Activity description:

Trees are an important part of our environment, providing homes for wildlife, storing carbon, producing oxygen and helping to protect soil and water. In this activity, pupils become tree detectives, exploring a tree and its surroundings to discover the many ways it interacts with the environment.

Begin by asking pupils what they think a tree needs to survive and what a tree provides for people, animals and the wider environment. Take the class outside and ask them to choose a tree to investigate. Pupils can measure its trunk circumference, observe its leaves and bark, and look carefully for signs of wildlife such as insects, birds, nests, holes or tracks.

Pupils then create a “Tree Identity Card”, drawing their tree and recording their observations. They can give their tree a name and describe its age, appearance, inhabitants and the role it plays in the local environment.

For KS1, pupils can focus on drawing, identifying colours, shapes and wildlife, and discussing what trees need to grow. KS2 pupils can investigate food chains, habitats, carbon storage and how trees influence soil, water and the local landscape.

To finish, ask pupils to imagine what would happen if their tree disappeared. This encourages discussion about biodiversity, habitats and why protecting trees and woodland matters.

The Woodland Trust